The Government of India has announced a special scholarship programme for the children of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) for pursuing undergraduate professional and general courses in India during the commencement of the 2011-12 academic year. Scholarships are being offered for Undergraduate courses in disciplines including Engineering / Architecture / Technology, Humanities / Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management (Bachelor of Business Administration / Bachelor of Business Management), Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture / Animal Husbandry, Sciences, Law, etc., except for medical and related courses.
The scholarship offers 75% of the Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) or US $ 3,600, whichever is less. IEC includes Tuition fee, Hostel fee and other institutional charges (Food charges are excluded).
NRI candidates would be eligible for the grant of scholarship only if their total family income does not exceed an amount equivalent to US $ 2,250 per month. Children of NRIs should have pursued at least three years of education inclusive of 11th & 12th or equivalent (not beyond), in a foreign country during the last six years, and have passed the qualifying examination abroad.
Candidates would be selected on the basis of merit. A Merit List would be drawn up on the basis of marks obtained by all the eligible candidates in STPM or ‘A’ Levels (or equivalent) exam. For more details on drawing of the Merit List, please refer to the ‘SPDC 2011-12 Information Booklet’ at the website of the High Commission of India.
Eligibility:
Age: Applicants in the age group of 17 to 21 years as on 1st October 2011 are eligible to apply for SPDC 2011-12 i.e. applicants born on or after 1st October 1990 and before 1st October 1994 are eligible to apply for the year 2011-12.
Academic Qualification: Candidates with 60% aggregate marks or equivalent grades in Higher Secondary (12th standard) or equivalent i.e. STPM, ‘A’ Levels, etc., as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), are eligible to apply. The candidates must have studied the prescribed essential subjects at the qualifying examination level to pursue a particular course of study.
The SPDC 2011-12 Guidelines and Application Forms can be downloaded from the Education webpage of the High Commission’s website . Further information on this SPDC scheme can also be accessed at the website of Ed.CIL . The application forms are also available with the Education Wing, High Commission of India, located at No. 2, Jalan Taman Duta, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, (Telefax: 03 2092 2339; Tel: 03 2093 3510 ext 410).
The duly filled-in applications should be sent directly to: The Project Manager (SPDC), Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL), Placement & Secondment Division, Ed.CIL House, No. 18A, Sector-16A, NOIDA-201 301, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. A photocopy of the application form should also be sent to High Commission of India (Education Section), No. 2, Jalan Taman Duta, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, for its record.
The last date for receipt of the application forms by Ed.CIL is 10 June 2011